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DIY Rustic Planter Box Made From A Pallet

planter box made from a pallet

I'm in love.

I'm head over heals in love with my new planter box. It just makes me so happy! I love its rustic, Pottery Barn look. I love that it didn't cost me anything to make. I love that I made something out of trash! I love that it's so versatile and the decorating possibilities are endless. I'm imagining using this planter all year round with a group of white pillar candles at Christmas, mason jars holding bouquets of flowers in the spring, and filling it with fruit in the summer.

Like many pinners, I have a Pinterest board devoted to pallet projects and I've noticed that projects made with old pallets seem to be really popular right now. There have been a few times I've been driving around town and noticed someone stopping to pick up a pallet and putting it in the back of their truck. It makes me smile every time because I can just imagine these men have wives or girlfriends who have told their guys to keep an eye out for pallets and snatch them up if they find one so they can make a Pinterest project!

We were lucky to find this pallet dumped near a path one evening while were were out for a walk. My teenage son was nice enough to haul it home for me although he made it clear he thought his mother was crazy for wanting to carry home someone's trash.

Taking the pallet apart was quite a job. The trick is to take it apart without damaging the wood. Most of the nails holding the pallet together were in there pretty good too. I used a screwdriver and a rubber mallet to loosen things up a little bit and then I was able to pry the boards apart with a crowbar. This pallet wasn't in great shape. There was some staining and wood that was rotted and split and couldn't be used at all. But after some sanding, most pieces looked pretty good.

After I had been working in the garage for a while, my son came out to see what I was doing. I guess the idea of using power tools was appealing to him, so I had some help with the sanding.

After the slats were sanded, I chose three of the best pieces of wood, one for the bottom and one for
each side of the box. Then I cut pieces from a fourth piece to use for the ends of
the box. I pre-drilled holes in the wood to prevent the wood from splitting, then I used wood screws to secure everything together. The box is really long and narrow. I like it that way (plus I didn't want to make any extra cuts!) I was thinking I might add some paint and sand it down so that the wood
shows through, but I'm really liking the way it looks just the way it
is. I can always add paint later if I change my mind.

This project was so much fun! Not only did I really enjoy making this project with my kiddo but I also love the finished result! I can certainly see the appeal of making something out of nothing. If I find any more pallets, I'm definitely snatching them up! And I have a willing partner in crime. My son was impressed that we made something out of a pallet (maybe his mom isn't so crazy after all) and he's looking forward to making something else. Hopefully we'll have some more pallet projects to share soon!

Comments

I also love the length of your box. It's so great for many things to dress up your table. Love how you filled it this time. When I started to tell my hubs about pallets and things made with them he scoffed literally. Then he got online and looked to see what could be made and now he's a fan also. We have a good sized pile of pallets down in our lower back yard. We've already made a few things and I love the smaller pieces for making signs. Like that the smaller pieces aren't so thick and not as heavy. Not everybody can hang some big old heavy thing on their walls. We have a mfg. home so have to be careful what we hang and how. So much can be made with pallets, it's so fun and inexpensive, gotta love free. Have fun with your pallets. Happy weekend

This is such a fabulous box and I love it as the centerpiece of your table. Great tutorial. I would love for you to link up to my Inspire Me party that will go live tomorrow afternoon. www.astrollthrulife.net Hugs, Marty

Your planter box turned out wonderful. It will be perfect to use for any season.Have a Lovely Day,SuzannePieced PastimesPS-Would love to have you link this up to Saturday Sparks. Links are open till Friday.

If there is an industrial section of your town just swing by and look for stacks of pallets out back. I know where I work we give them away for free. Just don't get a blue pallet (most municipalities have fines for having them in your possession).

Absolutely lovely. I also love your blog name! I hope someday when my son is older (he's only 2 and a half right now), I too can convince him that my affinity for picking up "trash" does not mean I'm crazy.

Oooh, that looks great, and I love that it's so long! I'm a bit wary of using pallets because I've heard that the wood is chemically treated, but maybe that only makes a difference if you're using them for a bonfire?

Yes, I've heard that too. If wood is chemically treated, it's not a good idea to burn in an indoor fireplace because it will release chemicals that are bad for you. As long as you're not burning the wood, I think it would be ok.

What great results! I've got a pallet... just trying to figure out what I want to do with it. This looks great, though. I never thought about the process of taking it apart. That does seem a bit challenging. But you've got a great result. Makes me think I should start working on mine :) Great post. Glad to have found your blog!

I really love this. I've been wanting to try a palette wood project, and I think I might be able to do this one :) Thanks for sharing your post, I think it's great your son helped too! What a great project to do together. Also, as a co-host of the Lovely Ladies linky party I want to say thanks for linking up this week, it's how I found you :)-Molly at Just a Little Creativity

I LOVE what you have done. You should come show off your creativity starting at 8PM CST at Craft Frenzy Friday! http://obsessiveandcreative.blogspot.com/2013/09/craft-frenzy-friday-6.html It won't be a party without you!

Great job! That's a true DIY project with tools and everything! It makes a beautiful tablescape. If you get a chance I'd love for you to share at All Things Pretty. http://sparklesandastove.com/things-pretty-linky-party-27-features/ Have a wonderful weekend!

This is so incredibility cute and oh my goodness the possibilities on decorating this are endless. I love how you have it decorated right now and yay for a son who is willing to help. :) Thanks for sharing and for linking up to Thrifty Thursday.

I love this idea! I have a couple of palettes in the garage from an old delivery! Now I know what I can use them for! I knew I could use them sometime! I'm bopping over from the VMC DIY Sunday Showcase. So glad you shared your link! I'd love to have you visit me sometime at http://www.kneadedcreations.com. Happy crafting! Deb @ Kneaded Creations

Love this! You are one of the features today at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on over and grab a feature button for your blog. Here is the link to this week's party. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/make-it-pretty-monday-week-69.html Hope to see you again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

You just can't beat a good pallet project! Oh, getting your kids in on it --- even better! Thanks for linking up to Gingerly Made's Show & Tell Party. YOU've been featured! http://www.gingerlymade.com/2013/10/show-tell-features.html

Hi there,This will look beautiful as decor anywhere. Thank you for sharing it. This post will be Featured on this week's Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop. I look forward to seeing what other projects you have in store for us this week.

You should be in love!! Your rustic planter is perfect!! Plus, I love how you filled it. I just had a huge vanity delivered on a DOUBLE pallet. I might be more excited about the pallet than the vanity. Haha. I would love for you to share your pallet planter on the link party I'm co-hosting this week. http://twoityourself.blogspot.com/2013/09/yay-were-co-hosting-link-it-or-lump-it.html

Thanks for sharing this great project at the Krafty Inspiration Thursday Link Party, you have been chosen as one of the top 5 featured posts at tomorrows party. Have a lovely evening!Maria @ Krafty Cards etc. http://kraftycardsetc.blogspot.com/

What a beautiful pallet box - great job! It makes a wonderful centerpiece/runner on your table. It would look great in a few spots in a house. I have never seen any pallets around my neck of the woods, maybe I need to keep my eye out too! Thanks for sharing :)

I saw someone else make this and I knew I wanted the exact thing for my centerpiece on my Fall table but I forgot how it was made. But I can still make it for Christmas, I love this idea and it looks so simple. Thanks for sharing. Visiting from TT#4.

Hi Bonnie! This looks absolutely fabulous! It just encompasses fall :) I wanted to thank you for linking up at last week's Get Crafty Friday link party and I also wanted to let you know that your planter box will be featured at this week's party! I would love it if you would stop by and grab a feature button. The party start tonight at 8pm EST!

I love your pallet planter box and pinned it! I have a couple of pallets sitting outside and if there is enough wood leftover from the project currently using it on, I MUST make one of these for my dining room table. I found you over at the Fall Linky Party at Setting for Four.Marie@InteriorFrugalista

This really turned out great! Great tutorial and use of a pallet! Would like to invite you to come by and share at One More Time http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2013/10/one-more-time-share-it-one-more-time.html Tammy

My sweet hubby made one of those boxes for me a year or two ago, and I LOVE being able to change it up pretty regularly!! Good for your son getting in some woodworking training. Most younglets enjoy the craft after they get started!Blessings to you,J

That is GORGEOUS!!! I love the rustic fall look it gives your home! Such a fun idea. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Thursday's Temptation. I am going to be featuring this tonight on my blog!Jill

I found you at Sew Many Ways. I so want to make something from a pallet. Seeing your project (and reading words like "fun" and a teenage "partner in crime" sounds just right to me. I do need to get a sander, I see, to make the pallet project work. Thanks for the inspiration.

Sorry for the delay in notifying you but Congrats! You were featured on Friday’s Five Features over on DIY Vintage Chic. Stop by and grab yourself a button! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/10/dont-forget-to-stop-by-and-like-my.html